Seminoles and West Flagler Make Peace After Sports Betting Fight

Posted on: October 29, 2024, 10:26h. 

Last updated on: October 29, 2024, 10:35h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.

Hard Rock owner, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and parimutuel operator West Flagler Associates, who recently fought a bitter legal battle over the state’s future sports betting landscape, have made their peace.

West Flagler, Seminole tribe, jai alai
West Flagler owns the World Jai Alai League, which will soon be available for wagering on the Seminole sports betting app. (Image: Cigar Aficionado)

The two parties announced Monday that they had entered into an agreement whereby West Flagler has agreed to refrain from future litigation, and the Seminoles will offer and promote Jai Alai wagering on their Hard Rock betting app.

This is truly a win-win agreement for the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler. This agreement establishes a relationship of collaboration among the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler in the State of Florida,” said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, in a statement.

“Rather than engaging in years of additional litigation, this agreement will allow the parties to work together to promote Jai Alai, which has played an important role in Florida’s gaming landscape for nearly 100 years,” he added.

Three-Year Court Battle

West Flagler owns the World Jai Alai League, headquartered in Coral Gables, and Bonita Springs Poker Room near Fort Myers.

The Seminoles have offered full-fledged mobile sports betting on their app since last December. That was shortly after the US Supreme Court denied a request by West Flagler to block the operation.

West Flagler initially sued the US Interior Department and, separately, the State of Florida in 2021 seeking to nullify a $2.5 billion gaming compact that handed the tribe a monopoly on mobile sports betting in the state.

In a federal lawsuit, the parimutuel operator argued that the compact violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which prohibits off-reservation tribal gaming, and this was what it argued the tribes’ mobile betting app amounted to. Thus, the Interior Department had been wrong to allow the compact to be approved, the lawsuit claimed.

In a state lawsuit, West Flagler also argued that the compact violated a 2018 Florida constitutional amendment that requires casino gambling expansion to be approved by a public vote.

SCOTUS Rejection

In 2021, a US district judge sided with West Flagler, overturning the compact. But in 2023, an appeals court reversed the decision. Meanwhile, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

The plaintiff’s appeal to the US Supreme Court was also turned away, effectively handing victory to Florida and the Seminoles.

Now, West Flager’s jai alai content will feature on the very app it tried to destroy.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Seminole Tribe in support of their gaming operations in Florida and to promote Jai Alai, which has been a critical component of Florida’s gaming industry since the 1920s.,” said Isadore Havenick of West Flagler. “We are proud that Jai Alai will be featured on the Hard Rock Bet app and we look forward to developing a strong partnership with the Seminole Tribe.”